STAAR Surgical Company
STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ:STAA) designs and markets Implantable Collamer Lenses (EVO ICL family) that correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. It sells through direct subsidiaries and distributors in 75+ countries to ophthalmic surgeons and refractive surgery centers.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersLake Forest, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What STAAR Surgical Company does
STAAR Surgical Company (NASDAQ:STAA), founded in 1982 and headquartered in Lake Forest, California, designs, develops, manufactures, and markets implantable Collamer lenses (ICLs) for the eye, along with companion delivery systems. Its core product portfolio — the EVO ICL, EVO+ ICL, and Visian ICL product lines — is built around the company's proprietary Collamer biocompatible material containing collagen, used exclusively by STAAR for over 30 years. The foldable lenses are implanted behind the iris in a minimally invasive procedure to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, providing a reversible alternative to laser-based refractive surgery (LASIK, PRK) that does not remove corneal tissue. Over 4 million ICLs have been sold worldwide since the first implantation in 1993.
STAAR generates revenue almost entirely from hardware sales of these implantable lenses, distributed through a hybrid model of direct subsidiaries in China, Japan, Singapore, UK, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland, complemented by independent distributors in approximately 75+ countries. The company targets two primary customer segments: (1) adult patients seeking visual freedom from glasses or contact lenses, and (2) ophthalmic surgeons and refractive surgery centers, with surgeons required to complete certification training (including proctoring of initial procedures) before ordering lenses. The company employs over 900 people and operates research, development, manufacturing, and packaging facilities in California and Switzerland. China is currently its largest revenue market, generating $47.4 million in Q1 2026 alone. Following the rejection of Alcon's $1.6 billion acquisition offer in January 2026, STAAR continues as an independent company under a restructured board and interim co-CEO leadership.
STAAR Surgical Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- STAAR Surgical Company
- Legal name
- STAAR Surgical Company
- Website
- https://staar.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- STAAR Surgical (NASDAQ:STAA) designs and markets Implantable Collamer Lenses (EVO ICL family) that correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. It sells through direct subsidiaries and distributors in 75+ countries to ophthalmic surgeons and refractive surgery centers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
STAAR Surgical Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ophthalmic Medical Devices
- NAICS
- Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Refractive Surgery Systems (Excimer/Femtosecond Lasers, Phakic IOL Systems, Wavefront/Guidance) (HLAHAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cataract Surgery Systems & IOLs (Phaco Systems, IOLs, Intraoperative Aberrometry, Viscoelastics) (HLAHAJAH)
Keywords
Where STAAR Surgical Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lake Forest
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
STAAR Surgical Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICLs): STAAR Surgical generates revenue primarily from the sale of its implantable collamer lenses including EVO ICL, EVO+ ICL, and Visian ICL product families. These products are sold globally through a network of independent distributors and direct subsidiary operations in key markets. Revenue is recognized upon shipment of products to distributors and end customers.
- Delivery Systems and Accessories: The company sells companion delivery systems and accessories required for ICL implantation procedures. These products complement the core lens portfolio and provide recurring revenue opportunities from existing surgeon customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | No public pricing tiers available |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
STAAR Surgical Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
STAAR Surgical designs, develops, manufactures, and markets implantable Collamer lenses (ICLs) — including the EVO ICL, EVO+ ICL, and Visian ICL product families — and companion delivery systems used by ophthalmic surgeons to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The foldable lenses are inserted through a small incision and placed behind the iris to provide visual freedom, lessening or eliminating reliance on glasses or contact lenses.
Product overview
STAAR Surgical Company offers a portfolio of implantable collamer lenses (ICLs) designed to provide visual freedom by reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. The product line centers on three main refractive solutions: EVO ICL, EVO+ ICL, and Visian ICL. All lenses are made from STAAR's proprietary biocompatible Collamer material and are foldable, allowing insertion through small incisions. The EVO+ represents an enhanced iteration with improved optics, while Visian ICL serves as the earlier-generation product. These lenses are implanted behind the iris in a minimally invasive procedure and are designed to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EVO ICL: Implantable Collamer Lens for vision correction - flagship product line for refractive surgery
- EVO+ ICL
- Visian ICL
- Collamer
Products and services
- EVO ICL Implantable Collamer Lens made from STAAR's proprietary biocompatible Collamer material; foldable for insertion through a small incision and placed behind the iris to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, reducing or eliminating dependence on glasses or contact lenses. Designed for ophthalmic surgeons and refractive surgery practices.
- EVO+ ICL Enhanced version of the EVO ICL with improved optical properties for better visual outcomes; corrects myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism through a quick, minimally invasive procedure using STAAR's foldable Collamer lens technology.
- Visian ICL Earlier-generation implantable collamer lens product line that provides visual freedom by reducing reliance on corrective eyewear through placement behind the iris using foldable Collamer lens technology.
- Companion Delivery Systems and Accessories Delivery systems and accessories required for ICL implantation procedures, sold alongside the lens portfolio to ophthalmic surgeons.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.4% of patients surveyed would have the ICL procedure again (STAAR Surgical ICL Data Registry, 2018)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use STAAR Surgical Company
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
STAAR Surgical Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
STAAR Surgical Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- IQ Laser VisioncoreStrategic agreement in the United States with IQ Laser Vision for distribution and promotion of EVO ICL products, announced in May 2024.
- Aier Eye Hospital GroupcoreStrategic cooperation agreement with Aier Eye Hospital Group, China's largest eye hospital network, for market development and collaboration in China announced in February 2016.
- ASCRS FoundationminorSTAAR Surgical is a Proud Partner with the ASCRS (American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery) Foundation for ophthalmic education and awareness initiatives.
- International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS)minorSTAAR Surgical is a Proud Sponsor of the International Society of Refractive Surgery, supporting global refractive surgery education and advancement.
- International Council of Ophthalmology FoundationminorSTAAR Surgical is a Proud Supporter of the International Council of Ophthalmology Foundation's Teaching the Teachers Initiative for ophthalmic training.
- Ophthalmic World Leaders (OWL)minorSTAAR Surgical is a Proud Sponsor and Partner with Ophthalmic World Leaders, a global organization supporting ophthalmic professionals.
- Beyond BlindnessminorSTAAR Surgical is a Proud Sponsor and Partner with Beyond Blindness, supporting vision-related community initiatives.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
STAAR Surgical Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Alcon: Global leader in ophthalmic surgical devices, including IOLs used in cataract and refractive surgery. Alcon attempted to acquire STAAR in 2025-2026 for $1.6B, indicating direct product overlap in the refractive surgical lens space.
- Carl Zeiss Meditec: Manufactures refractive surgery lasers (LASIK/SMILE) and ophthalmic surgical microscopes. Directly competes for refractive surgery market share against STAAR's lens-based ICL approach.
- Nidek Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of refractive surgery lasers and ophthalmic surgical equipment. Directly competes in the refractive surgery systems market with STAAR's lens-based approach.
- HOYA Corporation (HOYA Surgical Optics): Manufacturer of intraocular lenses (IOLs) for cataract and refractive surgery, including phakic IOLs. Competes with STAAR in the implantable lens category.
Emerging players
- Glaukos Corporation: Ophthalmic medical device company expanding beyond MIGS into interventional眼科 and refractive-adjacent areas. Comparable as a focused ophthalmic surgical device specialist serving surgeons.
- RxSight: Maker of light-adjustable IOLs for cataract and refractive surgery. Targets the same premium surgical lens market with a post-implantation adjustable approach, representing a competing lens-based alternative.
- Lensar Inc. Developer of the ALLEGRETTO refractive surgery laser platform and next-generation cataract surgery systems. Competes for refractive procedure volumes against STAAR's ICL approach.
Broad incumbents
- CooperVision: Major contact lens manufacturer addressing the same myopia correction category as STAAR's ICL. Represents the consumable lens alternative that ICL procedures compete against for vision correction share.
- Bausch + Lomb (B+L): Broad ophthalmic portfolio including IOLs, refractive surgery equipment, and vision care products. Overlapping customer base of ophthalmic surgeons and refractive surgery centers.
- Johnson & Johnson Vision (J&J Vision / AMO): Major ophthalmic surgical franchise offering IOLs, refractive surgery (LASIK) equipment, and contact lenses. Serves the same refractive surgeon channel with both lens-based and laser-based alternatives.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
STAAR Surgical Company social profiles
Digital presenceSTAAR Surgical Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
STAAR Surgical Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
STAAR Surgical Company subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
STAAR Surgical Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
STAAR Surgical Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about STAAR Surgical Company
What does STAAR Surgical Company do?
STAAR Surgical designs, develops, manufactures, and markets implantable Collamer lenses (ICLs) — including the EVO ICL, EVO+ ICL, and Visian ICL product families — and companion delivery systems used by ophthalmic surgeons to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. The foldable lenses are inserted through a small incision and placed behind the iris to provide visual freedom, lessening or eliminating reliance on glasses or contact lenses.
Is STAAR Surgical Company a public or private company?
STAAR Surgical Company is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was STAAR Surgical Company founded?
STAAR Surgical Company was founded in 1982. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is STAAR Surgical Company based?
STAAR Surgical Company is headquartered in Lake Forest, United States, in the North America region.
How does STAAR Surgical Company make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICLs) is the primary driver. The others are delivery Systems and Accessories.
Who are STAAR Surgical Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Alcon, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Nidek Co., Ltd. and HOYA Corporation (HOYA Surgical Optics). Emerging players are Glaukos Corporation, RxSight and Lensar Inc.. Broad incumbents are CooperVision, Bausch + Lomb (B+L) and Johnson & Johnson Vision (J&J Vision / AMO).
Does STAAR Surgical Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for STAAR Surgical Company.
What industry is STAAR Surgical Company in?
STAAR Surgical Company's product category is Ophthalmic Medical Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAJAG, Refractive Surgery Systems (Excimer/Femtosecond Lasers, Phakic IOL Systems, Wavefront/Guidance), with a secondary code of HLAHAJAH, Cataract Surgery Systems & IOLs (Phaco Systems, IOLs, Intraoperative Aberrometry, Viscoelastics). Its NAICS code is 339115 and its SIC code is 3841.